First day back after a long winter with of course new migrants in attendance. It was just good to get out there, so thank you SWT. Went round with a good friend and the birds turned out as well. 49 Species in an afternoon is not at all bad. With the best being a male HEN HARRIER which flew against a COMMON BUZZARD for five minets. Also MARSH HARRIER male and RED KITE. CETTIE.S WARBLER, SEDGE WARB, BLACKCAP and CHIFFCHAFF. Several MEADOW PIPIT and BEARDED TIT.. Also a LAPWING nest sitting.
Yesterday from home the highlight was a pair of OYSTERCATCHER that flew low over the house heading for Lake Loathingland. In the afternoon spent two hours on the beach with the family. Again good to see the kitty's on the Clairmont Pier. With few ringed birds, one in pic below rung as adult in 2015.
Pathways: Sorted it out with firsts with SWALLOW, WHITETHROAT, BLACKCAP with of course the regular CHIFFCHAFF. Still only one LITTLE GREBE, same again in GADWALL. Nest still occupied by MUTE SWAN. In many respects a fly bye YELLOW BRIMSTONE, and also a TORTASHELL.
I spend hours these days in my small town garden and over the years it has produced beyond any expectation. Mine and many others can't believe the sightings that I have had. The thing is there are other surprises and one is that I get very few sightings of CHAFFINCH. This year has seen an exception with three sightings of these birds and today three birds. With two male and a female, they seem to be visiting next door for some reason and the only reason I can give to this, that being that there is children's sand on the floor. But the photo's do not support this as the tip of the beak is black.
Now that the six trees near by are growing well, after being cut back three years ago. We are seeing return of interest. The main one being that a pair of MAGPIE'S are part way through building a nest, but they can be rather fickle in this process and already local CARRION CROW.S have been giving them grief, So we wait and see which way it goes. I have had no COLLARD DOVE all year in the garden and in general there are not many about at all. The family of local HOUSE SPARROWS are starting to draw in close to the house again. I have also befriended a WHITE DOVE which has taken two weeks to feeding from hand. Don't know if this is a good idea or not.
Walk round Pathways Care Farm brought in COMMON BUZZARD, SPARROW HAWK, RED KITE. MUT SWANS are nesting well now. Also singing CHIFFCHAFF and very little else.
Called in to see if the ring necked was about but no joy. But a ride round brought in a single female CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH, ROBIN, DUNNOCK, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, BLACKBIRD.
There is not much you can say, as in the words of the old song "Where have all the birdies gone". Not one duck on the lake and very little else. Three LITTLE GREBE and three MOORHEN and that's it.
As for the Silo well it produced at last a female PERGRINE which flew from the feeding box and flew to the South side.
What can you say, only ducks are gone. Well only two MALLARD. In two words "Nout about". Three LITTLE GREBE and one MOOEHEN. So of to Link
s Hill: Loads of CARRION CROW and the sane for HERRING GULL. Only one MEDITERANIAN GULL and an interesting gull in what I would call a SCANDINAVIAN HERRING GULL. you decide.
